Find out how popular the last name Railsback is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Railsback.

Railsback, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Railsback surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Railsback in America

Railsback is the 24260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Railsback surname appeared 1,034 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Railsback.

We can also compare 2010 data for Railsback to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Railsback

The surname Railsback is of English origin and is derived from a locational name. It is believed to have originated from a place called "Rowlsback" or "Rowlesback" in Lancashire, England, during the late medieval period.

The surname is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hreol" or "hreols," meaning "reel" or "bobbin," and "bæc," meaning "back" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have originated from a geographic feature or a place where reels or bobbins were produced or used.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from the late 13th century, where it appears as "de Rollesbach." This spelling variation indicates the locational origin of the name.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various records with different spellings, such as "Rawlsbacke," "Rawlesbacke," and "Rawlisbeck." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of local dialects.

One notable bearer of the Railsback surname was John Railsback, who was born in England around 1630. He emigrated to America and settled in Virginia, where he and his descendants played a significant role in the early history of the colony.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Railsback, an American politician who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois from 1967 to 1977. He was born in 1932 and was known for his role in the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon.

In the 19th century, the Railsback family had a presence in various parts of the United States, including Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas. One notable member was Charles Railsback, born in 1844 in Indiana, who served as a Union soldier during the American Civil War.

The surname Railsback has also been associated with several notable academics and scholars. For instance, George Railsback, born in 1908 in Illinois, was a distinguished geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossils and sedimentary rocks.

Another individual with the Railsback surname was Mary Railsback, born in 1937 in Illinois, who was a prominent educator and advocate for special education programs in the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname Railsback has maintained its English roots and has been carried by individuals in various professions, from politicians and soldiers to academics and educators, across different parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Railsback

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Railsback.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Railsback was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Railsback has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Railsback was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Railsback, please contact us.

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